Knights Go Out On A Big Winning Note -- 66-7

The University of Central Florida football team turned Saturday night's season finale into a funeral, burying Samford University, 66-7, before 6,176 fans at Orlando Stadium.

The comical victory over the Bulldogs (3-6), a Division III weakling from Birmingham, Ala., capped off the first winning season for the Knights (6-5) since 1979.

''I never expected to win like this,'' said UCF Coach Gene McDowell, who won his 10th game in two seasons, tying him with Don Jonas as the winningest coach in Knights history. ''I guess we were the better team.''

UCF's seniors, who suffered through three consecutive losing seasons, couldn't have gone out in a bigger blaze of glory.

''It feels real good to go out a winner,'' said senior fullback Aaron Sam, who rushed for a career-high 117 yards and three touchdowns. ''This kind of score has been done to us before. It feels good to do it to somebody else for a change.''

''This is a great way to go out,'' said senior tailback Elgin Davis, who ran for a season-high 118 yards, including a 79-yard touchdown. ''It's probably the best way any athlete could go out.''

UCF broke seven team records in the mercy killing:

Most points in a game (66), eclipsing the old record of 59 against Fort Lewis (Colo.) College in 1983.

Most points in a half (45 in the first).

Widest margin of victory (59 points), bettering the previous mark of 55 points against St. Leo in 1980.

Most total yards (633), shattering the old record of 513 against Murray (Ky.) State this season.

Most yards in a half (455 in the first half).

Most yards rushing (448).

Most touchdowns rushing (six), doubling the previous mark of three.

The Knights also broke three individual records:

Davis' 79-yard touchdown run in the first quarter bettered the 73-yard run by John Muldoon against Savannah State in 1981.

Eddie O'Brien's nine extra-point conversions eclipsed the old record of eight by Scott Ryerson against Fort Lewis in 1983.

Sam's three touchdown runs bettered the previous mark of two.

But it was punter Jim Hogan who stole the show by intentionally trying to punt the ball into the stands early in the fourth quarter. Hogan, a flaky, senior walk-on, told coaches last week he wanted to be remembered for something different. What he will be remembered for is having a punt blocked by Jon Brown and returned 25 yards for a touchdown by Chris Betts, spoiling UCF's first shutout since 1983.

After the miscue, Hogan ran directly into the locker room, slipped into his street clothes and left the stadium before the end of the game.

''He knew the players would be mad, so he disappeared,'' McDowell said. ''I can't say I blame him.''

McDowell, who appeared to find the incident amusing, said there's not much he can do about Hogan's antics because the punter's career is over.

''He asked me if he could turn around and punt the ball backwards out of the end zone, and I told him that would be a safety,'' McDowell said. ''He asked me if he could kick it into the stands, and I said that would be too humiliating to Samford.

''He showed a little low class, but I still like him. He's a good kid.''

McDowell also wasn't too thrilled with Neil Beasley's 72-yard punt return for a touchdown late in the third quarter with the Knights holding an insurmountable, 59-0 lead. The return was 1-yard shy of the school record held by John Scargle, who returned a punt 73 yards against Hampden-Sydney (Va.) College in 1981.

''He made me a little mad because we just set up a defensive return, and he went all the way,'' McDowell said. ''I didn't want to embarrass Samford anymore.''